Araz News:  Turkey’s economy ministry has decided to support investment incentives for the “Solar Energy” sector investment incentives following promises made by the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party).  The government gave 28 incentive certificates to solar energy projects out of a total 35 energy production projects in February 2015, according to its regular data release.

Turkey has an advantageous location from which to produce solar energy compared with other countries in Europe, with Turkey’s existing conditions for solar power generation being strong and solar radiation values high. In this respect Turkey resembles Spain, which is one of the powerhouses in the world in the development of solar power.

The Turkish government’s incentive policy gives primacy to domestic and renewable energy sources, and the distribution of incentive certificates in its February data release signifies that it favors the solar energy sector more than any other sector.

Turkey’s economic ministry will support 28 solar energy power plants, 3 wind power plants, 1 geothermal power plant, 1 coal power plant, 1 hydroelectric power plant, and 1 biomass power plant with investment incentives in 2015.

11 solar energy power plants in Nevsehir, 8 power plants in Konya, and 4 power plants in Isparta will be built under the ministry’s incentive program. In Kayseri, Antalya, Mugla, Burdur, and Eskisehir, one power plant for each city will be created.

The 35 energy production facilities will contribute about 471 megawatts toward Turkey’s present energy force after they are put into use.

The fixed investment value of the 35 energy production projects is about 708 million lira (approximately 261 million dollars), and will employ close to 500 people.

Turkey’s investment potential in solar energy is projected to be about $60 billion in total, and experts estimate 380 billion kilowatt-hour of solar energy potential for each year. The Turkish government is aiming for at least 3 gigawatts (GW) to be produced yearly by 2023.

Turkey’s government ratified the second Renewable Energy Law, concerning the use of renewable energy resources for the generation of electrical energy, in 2010.

Companies which generate electricity from renewable energy sources will be able to receive an incentive certificate (RER Certificate) according to the Law.

The  governing AK Party has made an election pledge stating that it aims for the government to develop domestic and renewable energy resources in Turkey, and in result reduce the country’s dependence on external energy sources.

Herguner Bilgen Ozeke, a famed attorney in energy law, says the pledge is to “increase the share of renewable energy resources in generation systems to 30 percent by 2023 through several measures, including the establishment of power plants based on solar energy, with an aim to become one of the top ten countries generating electricity using solar resources.”

TRT